Newspaper article on history of Towanda Township

Memoirs of the Pioneers and Early Settlers of Towanda Township by Mrs. Howard Fincham Published in the Lexington Unit-Journal, Lexington, Illinois Thursday, October 21, 1937 More than 100 years ago no road or highway crossed the vast stretches of the prairies, but sloughs and ponds at intervals marked the undrained depressions in the landscape of the state of Illinois. Wild animals roamed at large, but over the scene brooded a strange silence, as of expectation of the coming of the white man to take charge of this domain. The history of Illinois embraces more than two centuries of discovery, exploration, settlement and development. Her soil has been occupied successively by Indian, French, British and American. Within her borders, clashed and finally harmonized the principles of Cavalier and Puritan. Her sons have become leaders in the councils of the nation and on the field of battle. No less famous than her statesmen and soldiers, have been the commercial and industrial leaders, nurtured upon her soil. From a "wilderness of prairies," to a great and populous state, Illinois has been honorable and glorious in her steady progress. During the administration of President James Monroe, Illinois was admitted as a state to the union in 1818. Shadrack Bond was first governor and the capital was at Kaskaskia. For nearly a hundred years prior to that time, the state itself was part of the Northwest territory and was known as the "Illinois Country" which was roughly, the territory lying between the Mississippi, Wabash and Ohio rivers and belonged to the state of Virginia. The name Illinois is derived from Algonquin Indians Tongue, Inini, meaning "the men." The French settlers euphemized it to Illini, with the suffix, ois, signifying "tribe." At the time of its admission, Illinois had a population of some 45,000 and ranked twentythird among the states of the Union. Thus Illinois has grown to be a great industrial center with Chicago as its nucleus, the fourth largest city in the world. Within her borders, mapped from a land surveying system authorized by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by Congress in 1786, in the heart of the great corn belt, lie the fertile prairies of McLean County, the second richest county in the world. A far cry from the stretches of prairie, broken here and there by streams and woodlands, which met the eye of the Hendrix and Dawson families, first settlers in the spring of 1822. At this time
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the Indians were still here. By the treaty of 1819 they had agreed to deed their land to the government, but had lingered long afterwards. However, it is recorded they were friendly to the settlers. The native groves with their many kinds of oak trees, maple, hickory, black walnut, ash, butternut, buckeye, sassafras and a variety of other kinds of small growth, and the natural springs and streams, the wild animal life and fowl, provided for the settlers, water, food, shelter, fuel and protection. Also the land near the timber was more easily broken up with the crude implements of that time. The soil was mostly of the silty nature, highly fertile, when properly drained. The subsoil is a clayey silt. Deep down under the surface were strata of sandstone and shale, buried by many feet of glacial drift. Upon this water soaked prairie grew masses of grasses, wild flowers and weeds. In autumn this dried mass was a constant menace of prairie fires. Another menace was rattlesnakes, mosquitoes and other insects, malaria and ague. The surface is generally level, the highest elevation being 913 feet and the lowest point 650 feet above sea level. In 1820 the state capital was moved to Vandalia and here centers much early history. This location remained the capital until 1837 when Springfield became the seat of government. McLean County was organized in 1830, eight years after settlement. It was named in honor of John McLean of Shawneetown, former member of the legislature, representative in Congress and first United States senator from Illinois. Later, July 1831, the county seat was established at Bloomington, here-to-fore known as Blooming Grove. This year was also the winter of the deep snow, which started falling late on Christmas Day, December 25, 1830. Until this date, Vandalia located in Fayette county of which McLean County was a part, was the county seat. A year later, 1832, the first court house was erected by Asahel Gridley. Prior to this time court was held at the house of James Allin, an early comer and a commissioner from Sangamon county. In the Allin house was held the first jury trial and divorce case. Also Abraham Lincoln held court here. In 1836 the second court house was built. Here many famous lawyers tried cases, including Abraham Lincoln, Leonard Swett, Robert G. Ingersoll, John T. Stuart, Stephen T. Logan and James Shield, afterwards senator. Many noted judges presided, including David Davis, Samuel H. Treat, T. Lyle Dickey, John M. Scott and many others. The political unit of McLean County had its germ in earlier units. The first precinct included all of the present McLean County, parts of Fayette, Dewitt and Piatt. The first government of the county was composed of three commissioners, Jonathon Cheney, Timothy Hoblit and Jesse Havens. They met first, March 16, 1831. Issac Vaker
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was appointed clerk and Thomas Orendorff was treasurer. It was he, who with James Latta had been sent a few months previous to Vandalia, with papers of organization. At this time the county tax was one half of one percent. Five voting precincts were created. Most of' the business of the first few years was the laying out of roads. It was Peter Folsom who drew the first map. Until 1857 commissioners continued to govern the county. Between 1850-57 three separate elections were held on the question of adopting the township form of government. It failed twice and was adopted by the third vote. The first board of supervisors chosen by townships, met May 17, 1858 and Nathaniel Sunderland, first supervisor of Towanda Township, sat at this meeting. Taking care of enlistments of volunteers for the Civil War was the first big business of this board. The simple life of the pioneer men and women, tillers of the soi1, naturally centered in the small settlements. Towanda Township, an agricultural center and named for an Indian tribe, was one of these communities. As the county had voted in 1857 to adopt township organization, 30 townships were established. Towanda Township, surveyed by Issac Baker, from the third principal meridian is located in the central part. It is six miles square and is divided into 36,640 acre sections and has a population of 1,134. Its boundaries are Money Creek on the north, Blue Mound on the east, Old Town on the south and Normal on the west. This township is composed mostly of prairie land, there being only one timber. In contrast to the early buffalo runs and Indian trails, traveled first by the Indian scout, the prairie schooner and the stage coach, crossing the township at many places are well defined roads. Three of these are paved and one macadamized. Connecting these main highways is a network of good gravel roads, offering every resident an outlet to industrial and community life. Once the days of the early inhabitants, the coming of the motor car has necessitated an improved highway system and Towanda Township has met the need in a practical and an efficient manner. The Chicago and Alton Railroad built through Towanda in 1853 and a branch of the Illinois Central, some years later, in 1883, through Barnes and Merna made possible in the past, as in the present, rapid transportation. However, in the past decade the railways have met much competition with the motor trucking system, which transports to and from the farms and industrial centers. Today another means of travel is by airplane, used mostly for carrying the mail and personal travel. Thus from the age of wagon trails; when cattle were driven on foot to market, more than one hundred miles away and corn carried on horseback to mills, several miles distant for grinding, transportation has progressed to steam and electric railways, paved highways and airways. Drainage is made possible by Money Creek, a small stream which rises in Dawson and Arrowsmith townships, flows northwest through the gently rolling farmlands and joins
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the Mackinaw River near Coon's Ford. In Money Creek Township this creek has been dammed and gives us beautiful Lake Bloomington, the source of the city of Bloomington's water supply and a summer resort. In the township are located two villages, Towanda and Merna, and Barnes station. . Towanda village, from a settlement along the old Chicago road, was mapped by Jesse Fell and Peter Bedeau in 1854, the year after the Chicago and Alton railroad was built. Charles Roadnight, an Englishman and a C. & A. executive, owned most of the town. His expectations of making a large city of this location failed. He built "Roadnight Hall" and a flour mill which he sold to Nathaniel Sunderland. Both it and the hall were destroyed by fire as was a second mill, built by Henry Warner, and a school house. Later Oliver Tilbury, a farmer of Towanda Township, moved with his family to the village and operated a tile factory. He shipped his products to western states, besides supplying the home demand., which was so great, that farmers lined their teams, awaiting the opening of the kilns, when tile so hot it could hardly be handled, was loaded. John Crichton, a native of Scotland, with a force of men, laid over 90 miles of tile in Towanda and Money Creek townships. Merna, named for the Merna family, is settled largely by those of Irish extraction. It has a Catholic church, built in 1884, that equals many in larger cities. The Rector was the Reverend O'Conner. This church replaced an earlier wooden edifice built in 1867, which was located a mile south of Merna. Barnes Station was named for the Barnes family and is a loading station for stock and grain. The years 1823-1830 witnessed many foundations laid for later communities and pioneer history from 1826 to 54 as it affects Money Creek and Towanda townships, naturally falls into four periods, early settlement, improvements, industries and immigration. Since there were no township lines until 1858 the history of the two townships, then known as Smith's Grove and Money Creek Timber settlements, was intermingled. Money Creek abounding in wood and water was settled first. Public volumes name Louis Sewards and Jacob Harness as the first comers in 1825. The Sewards went on to the Wisconsin Wilds. The first family to settle permanently may be claimed by both townships. John Trimmer and his wife, Elizabeth Lanterman Trimmer, with their family of eight came from New Jersey in 1826. From the Wabash river they traveled an Indian trail and made their camp at Smith's Grove Towanda Township in August 1886. In October Mr. Trimmer died and was the first person buried in what is now Pennel cemetery.
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In December, 1826, Eliza Ann Trimmer, daughter of the deceased and Jacob Spawr who came in l826 to Money Creek were married and the first marriage took place in the same family in which occurred the first death. The Trimmer family moved, built a house in Money Creek a mile north of the present village of Towanda and became an integral part of Money Creek Township. Among other pioneer settlers of this township whose history is intermingled with Towanda Township are the Ogden, Stretch, Bishop, and Moats families. Benjamin and Sarah Stretch Ogden, the former of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania, immigrated in 1850. Mr. Ogden bought out Louis Sewards. Jesse Ogden, an only son of six surviving children, was born in 1834. He engaged in farming and stock raising and was supervisor of Money Creek Township. He retired to Towanda village in the late 80's. On this farm where lived Benjamin Ogden in 1830, Bernie Stover and family now reside, fourth and fifth generations. Jesse and Elizabeth Vandolah Stretch, natives of Pennsylvania, came overland with their family from Ohio in 1830. Benjamin, one of 14 children, was born in 1850. He was among the oldest children born in the township. In the 1860's Benjamin and Miranda Kerr Stretch moved with their family to Towanda Township. E. B. Gatliff, a grandson, owns and operates this same farm. Mrs. Edward Luster, a granddaughter, owns and resides on a small tract. Wil1iam and Rebecca Briggs Bishop came from Alabama to Indiana in 1823 and to Money Creek in 1836. The Rev. Pleasant Bishop, one of 10 children, was born in Indiana in 1832. He attended the Illinois Wesleyan University and in l852 delivered the commencement oration for the college, the subject being, "The Future of the American Confederacy". In 1853 he married Amelia Timmons, daughter of Henry and Celia Briley Timmons, who located in Towanda Township in 1849. Mr. Bishop served in the Civil War. It was to the Bishop home that J. W. Stover, a pioneer from Ohio, came in 1852. He married Elizabeth Ogden, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Stretch Ogden, in 1857. They lived in Money Creek until they moved to a farm in Towanda Township in the late 80's. There are three living children. Jacob and Sarah Hinthorn Moats, native of Maryland and West Virginia respectively, came, with their family from Ohio in 1829. A grandson, Marion Moats engaged in the grain business in Towanda in the 90's. These men and women were among the earliest settlers of McLean County. As others, who were here before the completion of the railroads, when the nearest markets were Peoria end Chicago, they drove overland their hogs and cattle and hauled by wagon across the prairies their surplus products. The brilliant coloring of the prairie remarked upon by these settlers, has been replaced by a different kind of beauty, that of the cultivated fields.
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The nearest post office to this settlement was Mackinaw, several miles distant, located in what is now Tazewell county. After going this distance the settlers had to pay 25� for a letter. Later a post office was established at Blooming Grove, 15 miles away. Finally a mail route was established from Ottawa to Springfield by way of Bloomington. Money Creek Timber being on. this route, received a post office. The postmaster was William Bishop and the mail was carried on horseback, the carrier making one trip a week. Later William Bishop gave up the post office to William Moore of Towanda. David Trimmer ran a blacksmith shop as early as 1828. Here-to-fore the settlers went all the way to Springfield to have their plows sharpened. Those were the days of the wooden mold boards. Elbert Dickason of Smith's Grove and John Pennel of Money Creek Timber, erected the first saw mill on Money Creek in Towanda Township in 1837, later operated by Pennel and Baylor. George Wallace built a flour mill on the Mackinaw river. These mills were run by water power. When the streams became dry the neighborhood went to Ottawa and the Kickapoo and Bowling Green in Woodford county for their grinding. The United Brethren is the pioneer church, organized in 1832. It was the first United Brethren church built in the state. Rev. John Dunham was the minister. Earlier preaching was by Issac Messer, at the home of Valentine Spawr in 1827. James Latta, a Methodist preacher, held meetings in the home of Jacob Spawr in 1830. The first school house in Money Creek was built of logs, about 1835, on the east bank of the Mackinaw river. Its windows were openings covered with greased paper. Slabs hewed from the log served as seats. The chimney of the log fireplace was made of mud and sticks. The teacher was Lindsey Scott of Tazewell county who "boarded round" and received the pay of $4 per pupil, for a term of three months. The texts were the Testament and the Speller. Those who wanted Arithmetic furnished their own books. This was a typical school of the prairies. Following the Trimmers in Towanda Township were David Smith who gave the name to Smith's Grove, and Fredrick Book in 1830. Neither remained and the Prairie township was not settled until 1840-50. In the first immigration from the east--it is not known how soon after the Trimmers-came William Halterman, Elbert Dickason, Jesse Walden and John Pennel. During the year 1836 began a rush of settlers, who came by ox team, by water, on horseback and on foot. The Flings and Bishops came in 1836. Others from the eastern states to come in the late 40' s and early 50' s were the Baylors, Arbuckles, Strouds, Dodsons, Abbotts, Henry Timmons, Jones and Whites, Elias Heller, William Hilts, Joseph Bedinger, B. T. and James F. Ballard, Willis Pepenol, Jeremiah
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Ewing and Calvin Barnes. In the late 50's came Edwin Reeves, John Meek, David Cowan, Lemuel Kiblinger, Elijah Ellis, Jeremiah Shade, Dennis Whiterago, Norman Finite and John N. King. From Germany in the 50' s came Frank Kraft, Timothy Kraft and John Geiger. Others were Smith Sawyer, Gottlieb Arnold and Walter Nichols. James Larkin came from Ireland and in 1857 and settled in Money Creek near the township line. George Falkingham and Samuel Marsh came from England in the late 50' s. Those who settled in the early 60's were, among others, Hugh Lormor, Robert Clark, Adrian Riddle, the Duncan family, Christian Meherle, T. B. Barklow, T. J. Ford, Fredrick Blum, Milton Hemline and George Schlosser. The Chicago and Alton railway built in 1853 gave an incentive to settlement. These Eastern states, the British Isles and Germany furnished the second immigration, a group of industrious, intelligent settlers, whose agricultural efforts have made a reputation for corn and cattle production. Among the first to settle were the Jones and White families. Abraham Jones of Welsh decent and one of 10 children of Abraham and Matilda Noel Jones, came from Ohio in 1848. He located at Smith's Grove followed in this year by two brothers, Nelson and Cyrus. A third brother, Frank, came in 1850. These brothers, with the family of George C., a native of New York state, and Julia Ann Noel White, who immigrated from Ohio to Indiana in 1828 and to Towanda Township in 1850, entered land and made a reputation in cattle and agricultural production which today their descendants are carrying on, many living on and operating these same farms. George White, son of George C. White, and Nelson Jones were importers and breeders of Norman Horses. He and his brother Edward, also W. B. Jones, son of Nelson Jones, made trips to France purchasing horses in Normandy and other places. Prominent was Cyrus Jones who in later life moved to California and was elected to the legislature. Edwin Jones of the second generation was supervisor of Towanda Township and later Mayor of the city of Bloomington and postmaster. George C. White son of William White and of the third generation, was state representative in Iowa. George W. White held the office of supervisor of' Towanda Township. In 1888 he attended the World's Fair in Paris and visited many places in France and England. Frank Jones, as did his three brothers before him, rode through on horseback in 1850, went back to Ohio, and returned again on horseback in l852. It was he who brought the first reaper, an Atkinson, to the community. This he purchased in 1856 and hauled by wagon from Chicago. In 1856 the father and mother came and made their home. Cyrus Jones and Margaret Rayburn were married in 1852. Descendants of Nelson and Eliza White Jones, Abraham and Nancy Donovan Jones and Frank and Ann Hampleman Jones live in the township, county, and many states.
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Descendants of George W. and Flora Raridon White live in the township and McLean County. Among those of the German immigration were Frank Kraft, Timothy Kraft and John Geiger. They came to Ohio in 1854, 56 and 52. Timothy Kraft was married in Ohio in 1856 to Miss Walbury Hurley. Frank Kraft was married at Bloomington in 1859 to Paulina Fiebig and John Geiger was married in 1859 at Bloomington to Anna Niese. These men, as others, acquired land in Towanda Township and became prosperous and influential citizens. Their descendants are active in community life and are living on these same farms. Elias Heller of Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry was an early settler in 1856. Charles M., a son of Elias and Eliza Braunsetter Heller and one of eight children, was born in Ohio in 1859. In Towanda Township he engaged in farming and the raising of Poland China hogs. The descendants of the Heller and Fling family are still living on the farm purchased from the government at an early date. William Hilts, a native of Pennsylvania, came with eight children to Towanda Township in 1856, the mother having died in Ohio. Of the daughters, one lived in the community; Harriet married the Rev. Robert Conover of the Presbyterian Church; Minerva married the Rev. Thompson Ewing and resided in Pennsylvania; Jane married Dr. Madison Rose and lived in Indiana. George married Mary Wilmuth; Samuel married Hattie Wilson; Marcus married Emma Burch; William married Sarah Stewart and they resided in Towanda and Money Creek townships. They were influential citizens and William Hilts was supervisor of Money Creek Township. Today the Hilts family is progressive and active in community life. Robert and Margaret McIlvain Clark, natives of Pennsylvania, came to Smith's Grove in 1865. Oren Clark of Normal is the only surviving member of his family. The grandsons live on the Clark Farm. Early residents of Merna were the Patrick Kinsella and Patrick and James Merna families. They followed agricultural pursuits and Michael Kinsella, a son, was engaged in the grain business. They were prosperous and influential and members of their families are following the activities of their fathers. Macaulay, the greatest of English historians said "The history of a country is best told in a record of the lives of its people." Many biographical books have been written of the early settlers of McLean County. Among the oldest are "Good Old Times in McLean County," by Dr. Duis, published in 1874 and "General History of McLean, County," by Professor Merriaman in 1879. Another book published in 1874 records the biographies of the settlers who were here before 1830. The name of the author was withheld. The pioneers named in this book are often referred to as the "snow birds," as were others who weathered the winter of the deep snow.
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While all the early sett1ers had a worthy part in the making of this new country, the pioneer period ended in 1853, with the advent of the railroads. Most of these men and women were of serious religious character; consequently they soon began to find ways and means of establishing a school and a church. The first schools were private subscription and semi-subscription. Although school was held as early as 1834 in Money Creek, at the home of Elijah Priest and at the 1og school house in 1835, we have no record of school in Towanda Township, until 1850, when Smith's Grove school was established. This building was of' logs. The directors were William Halterman, James V. Bishop and Jesse Walden. Miss Johanna Beatty was teacher. The first record of school in Towanda was in 1852, taught by Samuel Gilfin. Trustees were James V. Bishop and Wealey McDowell. A later teacher was Miss Margaret Futhey. There is no record as to the location of this school. The first school house on record in Towanda was built in 1854. It became inadequate and a second building near the site of the present school burned before completion in 1866. The third was erected and stood until torn down for the building of the present School. While the second building was being erected, classes were held at the home of N. M. Jones. G. H. Thrasher taught in the new school in 1866. Today in the township are six rural schools and one high school, offering a four year course. The pioneers first held church and religious meetings in the homes, and we have record of three early preachers of Blooming Grove, in 1824. Ebenezer Rhodes, Peter Cartwright and James Springfield, known as circuit preachers, visited on horseback the homes of surrounding groves. John Dunham, a United Brethren preacher in Money Greek in 1832, preached at Smith's Grove and later the Reverend Dodd. The Presbyterian church was organized at Smith's Grove school house in 1856, with 11 charter members, 10 of whom were members of the Rayburn family and their connections. The present church was built in 1864-65 during the Civil War. Rev. Robert Conover preached the dedicatory sermon and was pastor until 1878. The Methodist church was the first built in the village in 1857. It was what is now the town hall, which was moved to build the present church in the early 90's. The Rev. N. H. Craig was minister. Rev. James Carins was the earliest minister of the Baptist church built in 1858. The first post office was at the home of William Moore, first postmaster and earliest resident, in 1853. The mail was carried on horseback. In 1855-56, when the mail began coming in on the railroad, the office was moved down town and David Kinnan became the first postmaster in the village, followed by Samuel Ware. During the past 15 years Samuel McMullen has served as postmaster. It is said the first postmaster carried the mail in his hat. Thus through the years has developed the organized postal system, with its free delivery, parcel post and air mail.
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David Kinnan built the first residence in the village, T. J. Laney the second dwelling house and Wesley Bishop, the third. The earliest grocery store was kept by Wesley Bishop, who also was the first station agent, serving before the dwellings were erected. Its location was east of the present store owned by W. J. Cash, whose father, and Fred Lormor kept s tore in the 90's. Following Wesley Bishop in the grocery business was T. J. Laney and Samuel Morris. In 1857 a. dry goods store was opened by Franklin Henderson of Greene County, Illinois. Later he engaged in farming and the buying and shipping of stock to Chicago and Eastern markets and the buying and shipping of grain to Chicago. He was supervisor of Towanda Township for 10 successive years and chairman of the board. He was also appointed to the State Board of Equalization. Descendants of Franklin and Sarah Metcalf Henderson are living in the village and own and operate the same farm west of Towanda. Later Mr. Cambell set up a dry goods store which burned. George W. Howard, who came in 1856, owned a general store and lumber yard. He also had descendants living in the village. A. L. Holcomb was an early druggist, followed by H. M. Macy. Matthew J. Wise lived in Towanda and did custom threshing and shelling. He owned the first corn sheller in this vicinity. In the early days Dr. Holderness resided in the village. Dr. Ethan McAfferty, a resident of Money Creek since 1830, also administered in Towanda Township, as did another pioneer doctor from Hudson, Dr. Silas Hubbard, in whose memory a memorial has been erected at Lake Bloomington. Later were Dr. Girten and Dr. Reedy. The first settler to leave the timber and locate out on the prairie was William Halterman, who moved in 1849 from Smith's Grove to the west part of Towanda Township, near Sulphur Spring. For many years this was the only house between Towanda and Bloomington. At one time the pumping station for the Chicago and Alton railroad was at Towanda. A large windmill pumped water from the well, located across the tracks near the present blacksmith shop, to the supply tank, which stood a block north of the depot. This was the only well between Chicago and Bloomington which furnished an unfailing supply of soft water. Towanda being a grain country, naturally ware houses became a necessity. David Kinnan and James Alexander built the first. Nathaniel Sunderland owned a second which was destroyed by fire. Charles Roadnight built a large elevator opposite the depot. Another was erected by Price and Maurice Jones in 1892. David Dinnan was followed in the grain business by William Halterman, T. J. Lord, J. J. Price, the Girten Brothers, James Hatfield, the Jones Brothers, Moats and Reedy and James Probasco. In the old ware
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house stood a grist mill of mill stones, driven first by horse power, then steam. Today it is the Towanda Grain Company, organized in 1908 by sons of the early families, of which Oren Clark was manager and George Geiger, President. The board of directors were Price Jones, Louis Kraft, Daniel Kraft, Edwin Henderson, James Donahoe, Oren Clark and George Geiger. At the present time this elevator is torn down and a new one is being erected in its place. E. B. Gatliff is manager. A second elevator is owned and managed by B. G. Falkingham. The Cotter family was also early residents. The father, a native of Ireland, was section foreman. His four sons, spoken of as the "Cotter boys," rose to the highest executives of the railroads. Towanda Township struggled through the hardships of the Civil War. One of the few living veterans of the Grand Army of' the Republic, is Mr. George Peterson, who resides in Towanda at the age of 93 years. In the World War, soldiers from this community fought on foreign soil. As a community we have been active and interested in the American Red Cross, the American Legion and its auxiliary and the Parent-Teacher Association. Many are members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Also the township was represented at the McLean County Centennial at Bloomington in August 1930. Towanda has a Masonic lodge chartered in 1867. Cyrus Jonas was worshipful master. The greatest aid to agriculture in McLean County, as elsewhere, was the organization of the McLean County Farm Bureau in 1914. From its original membership of 192 it has grown to 2,500 the largest Farm Bureau in the world and holds the silver cup. During the critical years of panic following the World War agriculture was save by legislation due to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Towanda Unit of the McLean County Home Bureau was organized in 1918, with a membership of 50, and was later discontinued. Mrs. Oren Clark was chairman. The present unit was organized in January 1937 and now has a membership of 50. Mrs. Harry Roseman is chairman. 'The earliest immigrants of the frontier country immigrated by prairie schooners driven by oxen. Their homes were built of logs hewn from timber and their fences of rails, as were those of the later pioneers. Part of the earliest sod was broken by wooden plows pulled by yoke of oxen. Today farming is mostly done by mechanical power, the tractor, the combine and the corn picker. Thus has agriculture, the foundation of all industry, progressed from the days of the sower by hand, the cradle and the flail, through the years of the wireless planter, the reaper and the horse and steam thresher, to the present mechanical age.
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Industry owes in part its organized system to the telephone, the typewriter and the adding machine, inventions unthought-of by our ancestors. As ancient civilization owes its origin to the discovery of the wheel, the advancement of modern civilization is due to the perfection of the plow. It was one hundred years ago John Deere, a village blacksmith of Grand Detour, Illinois, gave to the world the steel plow. This was a marked improvement over the primitive plow of earlier days. It was this plow that shed the black, sticky soil of the vast prairie empire and insured the permanency of the middle-west. Recreational privileges of today contrast those of earlier amusements. We have the moving pictures, radio, baseball, football, the modern dance and many others, whereas theirs were foot racing, horse racing, the quadrille and the Virginia Reel. As the settlers had to find ways in their homes of supplying their own needs, spinning wool, grinding meal, and in many instances, dipping their own candles, these were occasional. McLean county, consequently Towanda Township, has had more than a century of history but the past 25 years have been more revolutionary than all the previous years. We live in a mechanical paradise, enjoying the benefits of electricity and mechanical power, unknown in the history of man. A bird's eye view from an airplane unknown to the early inhabitants, contrasts a picture to the simple life of the wilderness, Between the railways, the highways and the streams, small villages, hundreds of farms with their bountiful harvests, the flocks and herds grazing in the pasture lands, large barns and comfortable homes denote a prosperous and contented rural population; and the well kept school houses and the churches indicate the means of enlightenment. We have come a long way from the simple life of the early frontier to the abundant life of today. The pioneers of our community and of McLean County, believed, and by faith, walked the rugged way of the frontier country and made this one-time wilderness a garden spot of the world. Their record is closed, those pioneers who fought bare handed the hard life and grinding toil, and the stark conditions of the untamed wilderness which spread in wild and useless luxuriance. They produced a certain degree of wealth, of culture, of solid civilization and it falls upon the present generation, we of today, to fulfill the heritage of our forefathers.
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Memoirs of the Pioneers and Early Settlers of Towanda Township by Mrs. Howard Fincham Published in the Lexington Unit-Journal, Lexington, Illinois Thursday, October 21, 1937 More than 100 years ago no road or highway crossed the vast stretches of the prairies, but sloughs and ponds at intervals marked the undrained depressions in the landscape of the state of Illinois. Wild animals roamed at large, but over the scene brooded a strange silence, as of expectation of the coming of the white man to take charge of this domain. The history of Illinois embraces more than two centuries of discovery, exploration, settlement and development. Her soil has been occupied successively by Indian, French, British and American. Within her borders, clashed and finally harmonized the principles of Cavalier and Puritan. Her sons have become leaders in the councils of the nation and on the field of battle. No less famous than her statesmen and soldiers, have been the commercial and industrial leaders, nurtured upon her soil. From a "wilderness of prairies," to a great and populous state, Illinois has been honorable and glorious in her steady progress. During the administration of President James Monroe, Illinois was admitted as a state to the union in 1818. Shadrack Bond was first governor and the capital was at Kaskaskia. For nearly a hundred years prior to that time, the state itself was part of the Northwest territory and was known as the "Illinois Country" which was roughly, the territory lying between the Mississippi, Wabash and Ohio rivers and belonged to the state of Virginia. The name Illinois is derived from Algonquin Indians Tongue, Inini, meaning "the men." The French settlers euphemized it to Illini, with the suffix, ois, signifying "tribe." At the time of its admission, Illinois had a population of some 45,000 and ranked twentythird among the states of the Union. Thus Illinois has grown to be a great industrial center with Chicago as its nucleus, the fourth largest city in the world. Within her borders, mapped from a land surveying system authorized by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by Congress in 1786, in the heart of the great corn belt, lie the fertile prairies of McLean County, the second richest county in the world. A far cry from the stretches of prairie, broken here and there by streams and woodlands, which met the eye of the Hendrix and Dawson families, first settlers in the spring of 1822. At this time
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the Indians were still here. By the treaty of 1819 they had agreed to deed their land to the government, but had lingered long afterwards. However, it is recorded they were friendly to the settlers. The native groves with their many kinds of oak trees, maple, hickory, black walnut, ash, butternut, buckeye, sassafras and a variety of other kinds of small growth, and the natural springs and streams, the wild animal life and fowl, provided for the settlers, water, food, shelter, fuel and protection. Also the land near the timber was more easily broken up with the crude implements of that time. The soil was mostly of the silty nature, highly fertile, when properly drained. The subsoil is a clayey silt. Deep down under the surface were strata of sandstone and shale, buried by many feet of glacial drift. Upon this water soaked prairie grew masses of grasses, wild flowers and weeds. In autumn this dried mass was a constant menace of prairie fires. Another menace was rattlesnakes, mosquitoes and other insects, malaria and ague. The surface is generally level, the highest elevation being 913 feet and the lowest point 650 feet above sea level. In 1820 the state capital was moved to Vandalia and here centers much early history. This location remained the capital until 1837 when Springfield became the seat of government. McLean County was organized in 1830, eight years after settlement. It was named in honor of John McLean of Shawneetown, former member of the legislature, representative in Congress and first United States senator from Illinois. Later, July 1831, the county seat was established at Bloomington, here-to-fore known as Blooming Grove. This year was also the winter of the deep snow, which started falling late on Christmas Day, December 25, 1830. Until this date, Vandalia located in Fayette county of which McLean County was a part, was the county seat. A year later, 1832, the first court house was erected by Asahel Gridley. Prior to this time court was held at the house of James Allin, an early comer and a commissioner from Sangamon county. In the Allin house was held the first jury trial and divorce case. Also Abraham Lincoln held court here. In 1836 the second court house was built. Here many famous lawyers tried cases, including Abraham Lincoln, Leonard Swett, Robert G. Ingersoll, John T. Stuart, Stephen T. Logan and James Shield, afterwards senator. Many noted judges presided, including David Davis, Samuel H. Treat, T. Lyle Dickey, John M. Scott and many others. The political unit of McLean County had its germ in earlier units. The first precinct included all of the present McLean County, parts of Fayette, Dewitt and Piatt. The first government of the county was composed of three commissioners, Jonathon Cheney, Timothy Hoblit and Jesse Havens. They met first, March 16, 1831. Issac Vaker
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was appointed clerk and Thomas Orendorff was treasurer. It was he, who with James Latta had been sent a few months previous to Vandalia, with papers of organization. At this time the county tax was one half of one percent. Five voting precincts were created. Most of' the business of the first few years was the laying out of roads. It was Peter Folsom who drew the first map. Until 1857 commissioners continued to govern the county. Between 1850-57 three separate elections were held on the question of adopting the township form of government. It failed twice and was adopted by the third vote. The first board of supervisors chosen by townships, met May 17, 1858 and Nathaniel Sunderland, first supervisor of Towanda Township, sat at this meeting. Taking care of enlistments of volunteers for the Civil War was the first big business of this board. The simple life of the pioneer men and women, tillers of the soi1, naturally centered in the small settlements. Towanda Township, an agricultural center and named for an Indian tribe, was one of these communities. As the county had voted in 1857 to adopt township organization, 30 townships were established. Towanda Township, surveyed by Issac Baker, from the third principal meridian is located in the central part. It is six miles square and is divided into 36,640 acre sections and has a population of 1,134. Its boundaries are Money Creek on the north, Blue Mound on the east, Old Town on the south and Normal on the west. This township is composed mostly of prairie land, there being only one timber. In contrast to the early buffalo runs and Indian trails, traveled first by the Indian scout, the prairie schooner and the stage coach, crossing the township at many places are well defined roads. Three of these are paved and one macadamized. Connecting these main highways is a network of good gravel roads, offering every resident an outlet to industrial and community life. Once the days of the early inhabitants, the coming of the motor car has necessitated an improved highway system and Towanda Township has met the need in a practical and an efficient manner. The Chicago and Alton Railroad built through Towanda in 1853 and a branch of the Illinois Central, some years later, in 1883, through Barnes and Merna made possible in the past, as in the present, rapid transportation. However, in the past decade the railways have met much competition with the motor trucking system, which transports to and from the farms and industrial centers. Today another means of travel is by airplane, used mostly for carrying the mail and personal travel. Thus from the age of wagon trails; when cattle were driven on foot to market, more than one hundred miles away and corn carried on horseback to mills, several miles distant for grinding, transportation has progressed to steam and electric railways, paved highways and airways. Drainage is made possible by Money Creek, a small stream which rises in Dawson and Arrowsmith townships, flows northwest through the gently rolling farmlands and joins
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the Mackinaw River near Coon's Ford. In Money Creek Township this creek has been dammed and gives us beautiful Lake Bloomington, the source of the city of Bloomington's water supply and a summer resort. In the township are located two villages, Towanda and Merna, and Barnes station. . Towanda village, from a settlement along the old Chicago road, was mapped by Jesse Fell and Peter Bedeau in 1854, the year after the Chicago and Alton railroad was built. Charles Roadnight, an Englishman and a C. & A. executive, owned most of the town. His expectations of making a large city of this location failed. He built "Roadnight Hall" and a flour mill which he sold to Nathaniel Sunderland. Both it and the hall were destroyed by fire as was a second mill, built by Henry Warner, and a school house. Later Oliver Tilbury, a farmer of Towanda Township, moved with his family to the village and operated a tile factory. He shipped his products to western states, besides supplying the home demand., which was so great, that farmers lined their teams, awaiting the opening of the kilns, when tile so hot it could hardly be handled, was loaded. John Crichton, a native of Scotland, with a force of men, laid over 90 miles of tile in Towanda and Money Creek townships. Merna, named for the Merna family, is settled largely by those of Irish extraction. It has a Catholic church, built in 1884, that equals many in larger cities. The Rector was the Reverend O'Conner. This church replaced an earlier wooden edifice built in 1867, which was located a mile south of Merna. Barnes Station was named for the Barnes family and is a loading station for stock and grain. The years 1823-1830 witnessed many foundations laid for later communities and pioneer history from 1826 to 54 as it affects Money Creek and Towanda townships, naturally falls into four periods, early settlement, improvements, industries and immigration. Since there were no township lines until 1858 the history of the two townships, then known as Smith's Grove and Money Creek Timber settlements, was intermingled. Money Creek abounding in wood and water was settled first. Public volumes name Louis Sewards and Jacob Harness as the first comers in 1825. The Sewards went on to the Wisconsin Wilds. The first family to settle permanently may be claimed by both townships. John Trimmer and his wife, Elizabeth Lanterman Trimmer, with their family of eight came from New Jersey in 1826. From the Wabash river they traveled an Indian trail and made their camp at Smith's Grove Towanda Township in August 1886. In October Mr. Trimmer died and was the first person buried in what is now Pennel cemetery.
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In December, 1826, Eliza Ann Trimmer, daughter of the deceased and Jacob Spawr who came in l826 to Money Creek were married and the first marriage took place in the same family in which occurred the first death. The Trimmer family moved, built a house in Money Creek a mile north of the present village of Towanda and became an integral part of Money Creek Township. Among other pioneer settlers of this township whose history is intermingled with Towanda Township are the Ogden, Stretch, Bishop, and Moats families. Benjamin and Sarah Stretch Ogden, the former of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania, immigrated in 1850. Mr. Ogden bought out Louis Sewards. Jesse Ogden, an only son of six surviving children, was born in 1834. He engaged in farming and stock raising and was supervisor of Money Creek Township. He retired to Towanda village in the late 80's. On this farm where lived Benjamin Ogden in 1830, Bernie Stover and family now reside, fourth and fifth generations. Jesse and Elizabeth Vandolah Stretch, natives of Pennsylvania, came overland with their family from Ohio in 1830. Benjamin, one of 14 children, was born in 1850. He was among the oldest children born in the township. In the 1860's Benjamin and Miranda Kerr Stretch moved with their family to Towanda Township. E. B. Gatliff, a grandson, owns and operates this same farm. Mrs. Edward Luster, a granddaughter, owns and resides on a small tract. Wil1iam and Rebecca Briggs Bishop came from Alabama to Indiana in 1823 and to Money Creek in 1836. The Rev. Pleasant Bishop, one of 10 children, was born in Indiana in 1832. He attended the Illinois Wesleyan University and in l852 delivered the commencement oration for the college, the subject being, "The Future of the American Confederacy". In 1853 he married Amelia Timmons, daughter of Henry and Celia Briley Timmons, who located in Towanda Township in 1849. Mr. Bishop served in the Civil War. It was to the Bishop home that J. W. Stover, a pioneer from Ohio, came in 1852. He married Elizabeth Ogden, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Stretch Ogden, in 1857. They lived in Money Creek until they moved to a farm in Towanda Township in the late 80's. There are three living children. Jacob and Sarah Hinthorn Moats, native of Maryland and West Virginia respectively, came, with their family from Ohio in 1829. A grandson, Marion Moats engaged in the grain business in Towanda in the 90's. These men and women were among the earliest settlers of McLean County. As others, who were here before the completion of the railroads, when the nearest markets were Peoria end Chicago, they drove overland their hogs and cattle and hauled by wagon across the prairies their surplus products. The brilliant coloring of the prairie remarked upon by these settlers, has been replaced by a different kind of beauty, that of the cultivated fields.
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The nearest post office to this settlement was Mackinaw, several miles distant, located in what is now Tazewell county. After going this distance the settlers had to pay 25� for a letter. Later a post office was established at Blooming Grove, 15 miles away. Finally a mail route was established from Ottawa to Springfield by way of Bloomington. Money Creek Timber being on. this route, received a post office. The postmaster was William Bishop and the mail was carried on horseback, the carrier making one trip a week. Later William Bishop gave up the post office to William Moore of Towanda. David Trimmer ran a blacksmith shop as early as 1828. Here-to-fore the settlers went all the way to Springfield to have their plows sharpened. Those were the days of the wooden mold boards. Elbert Dickason of Smith's Grove and John Pennel of Money Creek Timber, erected the first saw mill on Money Creek in Towanda Township in 1837, later operated by Pennel and Baylor. George Wallace built a flour mill on the Mackinaw river. These mills were run by water power. When the streams became dry the neighborhood went to Ottawa and the Kickapoo and Bowling Green in Woodford county for their grinding. The United Brethren is the pioneer church, organized in 1832. It was the first United Brethren church built in the state. Rev. John Dunham was the minister. Earlier preaching was by Issac Messer, at the home of Valentine Spawr in 1827. James Latta, a Methodist preacher, held meetings in the home of Jacob Spawr in 1830. The first school house in Money Creek was built of logs, about 1835, on the east bank of the Mackinaw river. Its windows were openings covered with greased paper. Slabs hewed from the log served as seats. The chimney of the log fireplace was made of mud and sticks. The teacher was Lindsey Scott of Tazewell county who "boarded round" and received the pay of $4 per pupil, for a term of three months. The texts were the Testament and the Speller. Those who wanted Arithmetic furnished their own books. This was a typical school of the prairies. Following the Trimmers in Towanda Township were David Smith who gave the name to Smith's Grove, and Fredrick Book in 1830. Neither remained and the Prairie township was not settled until 1840-50. In the first immigration from the east--it is not known how soon after the Trimmers-came William Halterman, Elbert Dickason, Jesse Walden and John Pennel. During the year 1836 began a rush of settlers, who came by ox team, by water, on horseback and on foot. The Flings and Bishops came in 1836. Others from the eastern states to come in the late 40' s and early 50' s were the Baylors, Arbuckles, Strouds, Dodsons, Abbotts, Henry Timmons, Jones and Whites, Elias Heller, William Hilts, Joseph Bedinger, B. T. and James F. Ballard, Willis Pepenol, Jeremiah
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Ewing and Calvin Barnes. In the late 50's came Edwin Reeves, John Meek, David Cowan, Lemuel Kiblinger, Elijah Ellis, Jeremiah Shade, Dennis Whiterago, Norman Finite and John N. King. From Germany in the 50' s came Frank Kraft, Timothy Kraft and John Geiger. Others were Smith Sawyer, Gottlieb Arnold and Walter Nichols. James Larkin came from Ireland and in 1857 and settled in Money Creek near the township line. George Falkingham and Samuel Marsh came from England in the late 50' s. Those who settled in the early 60's were, among others, Hugh Lormor, Robert Clark, Adrian Riddle, the Duncan family, Christian Meherle, T. B. Barklow, T. J. Ford, Fredrick Blum, Milton Hemline and George Schlosser. The Chicago and Alton railway built in 1853 gave an incentive to settlement. These Eastern states, the British Isles and Germany furnished the second immigration, a group of industrious, intelligent settlers, whose agricultural efforts have made a reputation for corn and cattle production. Among the first to settle were the Jones and White families. Abraham Jones of Welsh decent and one of 10 children of Abraham and Matilda Noel Jones, came from Ohio in 1848. He located at Smith's Grove followed in this year by two brothers, Nelson and Cyrus. A third brother, Frank, came in 1850. These brothers, with the family of George C., a native of New York state, and Julia Ann Noel White, who immigrated from Ohio to Indiana in 1828 and to Towanda Township in 1850, entered land and made a reputation in cattle and agricultural production which today their descendants are carrying on, many living on and operating these same farms. George White, son of George C. White, and Nelson Jones were importers and breeders of Norman Horses. He and his brother Edward, also W. B. Jones, son of Nelson Jones, made trips to France purchasing horses in Normandy and other places. Prominent was Cyrus Jones who in later life moved to California and was elected to the legislature. Edwin Jones of the second generation was supervisor of Towanda Township and later Mayor of the city of Bloomington and postmaster. George C. White son of William White and of the third generation, was state representative in Iowa. George W. White held the office of supervisor of' Towanda Township. In 1888 he attended the World's Fair in Paris and visited many places in France and England. Frank Jones, as did his three brothers before him, rode through on horseback in 1850, went back to Ohio, and returned again on horseback in l852. It was he who brought the first reaper, an Atkinson, to the community. This he purchased in 1856 and hauled by wagon from Chicago. In 1856 the father and mother came and made their home. Cyrus Jones and Margaret Rayburn were married in 1852. Descendants of Nelson and Eliza White Jones, Abraham and Nancy Donovan Jones and Frank and Ann Hampleman Jones live in the township, county, and many states.
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Descendants of George W. and Flora Raridon White live in the township and McLean County. Among those of the German immigration were Frank Kraft, Timothy Kraft and John Geiger. They came to Ohio in 1854, 56 and 52. Timothy Kraft was married in Ohio in 1856 to Miss Walbury Hurley. Frank Kraft was married at Bloomington in 1859 to Paulina Fiebig and John Geiger was married in 1859 at Bloomington to Anna Niese. These men, as others, acquired land in Towanda Township and became prosperous and influential citizens. Their descendants are active in community life and are living on these same farms. Elias Heller of Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry was an early settler in 1856. Charles M., a son of Elias and Eliza Braunsetter Heller and one of eight children, was born in Ohio in 1859. In Towanda Township he engaged in farming and the raising of Poland China hogs. The descendants of the Heller and Fling family are still living on the farm purchased from the government at an early date. William Hilts, a native of Pennsylvania, came with eight children to Towanda Township in 1856, the mother having died in Ohio. Of the daughters, one lived in the community; Harriet married the Rev. Robert Conover of the Presbyterian Church; Minerva married the Rev. Thompson Ewing and resided in Pennsylvania; Jane married Dr. Madison Rose and lived in Indiana. George married Mary Wilmuth; Samuel married Hattie Wilson; Marcus married Emma Burch; William married Sarah Stewart and they resided in Towanda and Money Creek townships. They were influential citizens and William Hilts was supervisor of Money Creek Township. Today the Hilts family is progressive and active in community life. Robert and Margaret McIlvain Clark, natives of Pennsylvania, came to Smith's Grove in 1865. Oren Clark of Normal is the only surviving member of his family. The grandsons live on the Clark Farm. Early residents of Merna were the Patrick Kinsella and Patrick and James Merna families. They followed agricultural pursuits and Michael Kinsella, a son, was engaged in the grain business. They were prosperous and influential and members of their families are following the activities of their fathers. Macaulay, the greatest of English historians said "The history of a country is best told in a record of the lives of its people." Many biographical books have been written of the early settlers of McLean County. Among the oldest are "Good Old Times in McLean County," by Dr. Duis, published in 1874 and "General History of McLean, County," by Professor Merriaman in 1879. Another book published in 1874 records the biographies of the settlers who were here before 1830. The name of the author was withheld. The pioneers named in this book are often referred to as the "snow birds," as were others who weathered the winter of the deep snow.
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While all the early sett1ers had a worthy part in the making of this new country, the pioneer period ended in 1853, with the advent of the railroads. Most of these men and women were of serious religious character; consequently they soon began to find ways and means of establishing a school and a church. The first schools were private subscription and semi-subscription. Although school was held as early as 1834 in Money Creek, at the home of Elijah Priest and at the 1og school house in 1835, we have no record of school in Towanda Township, until 1850, when Smith's Grove school was established. This building was of' logs. The directors were William Halterman, James V. Bishop and Jesse Walden. Miss Johanna Beatty was teacher. The first record of school in Towanda was in 1852, taught by Samuel Gilfin. Trustees were James V. Bishop and Wealey McDowell. A later teacher was Miss Margaret Futhey. There is no record as to the location of this school. The first school house on record in Towanda was built in 1854. It became inadequate and a second building near the site of the present school burned before completion in 1866. The third was erected and stood until torn down for the building of the present School. While the second building was being erected, classes were held at the home of N. M. Jones. G. H. Thrasher taught in the new school in 1866. Today in the township are six rural schools and one high school, offering a four year course. The pioneers first held church and religious meetings in the homes, and we have record of three early preachers of Blooming Grove, in 1824. Ebenezer Rhodes, Peter Cartwright and James Springfield, known as circuit preachers, visited on horseback the homes of surrounding groves. John Dunham, a United Brethren preacher in Money Greek in 1832, preached at Smith's Grove and later the Reverend Dodd. The Presbyterian church was organized at Smith's Grove school house in 1856, with 11 charter members, 10 of whom were members of the Rayburn family and their connections. The present church was built in 1864-65 during the Civil War. Rev. Robert Conover preached the dedicatory sermon and was pastor until 1878. The Methodist church was the first built in the village in 1857. It was what is now the town hall, which was moved to build the present church in the early 90's. The Rev. N. H. Craig was minister. Rev. James Carins was the earliest minister of the Baptist church built in 1858. The first post office was at the home of William Moore, first postmaster and earliest resident, in 1853. The mail was carried on horseback. In 1855-56, when the mail began coming in on the railroad, the office was moved down town and David Kinnan became the first postmaster in the village, followed by Samuel Ware. During the past 15 years Samuel McMullen has served as postmaster. It is said the first postmaster carried the mail in his hat. Thus through the years has developed the organized postal system, with its free delivery, parcel post and air mail.
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David Kinnan built the first residence in the village, T. J. Laney the second dwelling house and Wesley Bishop, the third. The earliest grocery store was kept by Wesley Bishop, who also was the first station agent, serving before the dwellings were erected. Its location was east of the present store owned by W. J. Cash, whose father, and Fred Lormor kept s tore in the 90's. Following Wesley Bishop in the grocery business was T. J. Laney and Samuel Morris. In 1857 a. dry goods store was opened by Franklin Henderson of Greene County, Illinois. Later he engaged in farming and the buying and shipping of stock to Chicago and Eastern markets and the buying and shipping of grain to Chicago. He was supervisor of Towanda Township for 10 successive years and chairman of the board. He was also appointed to the State Board of Equalization. Descendants of Franklin and Sarah Metcalf Henderson are living in the village and own and operate the same farm west of Towanda. Later Mr. Cambell set up a dry goods store which burned. George W. Howard, who came in 1856, owned a general store and lumber yard. He also had descendants living in the village. A. L. Holcomb was an early druggist, followed by H. M. Macy. Matthew J. Wise lived in Towanda and did custom threshing and shelling. He owned the first corn sheller in this vicinity. In the early days Dr. Holderness resided in the village. Dr. Ethan McAfferty, a resident of Money Creek since 1830, also administered in Towanda Township, as did another pioneer doctor from Hudson, Dr. Silas Hubbard, in whose memory a memorial has been erected at Lake Bloomington. Later were Dr. Girten and Dr. Reedy. The first settler to leave the timber and locate out on the prairie was William Halterman, who moved in 1849 from Smith's Grove to the west part of Towanda Township, near Sulphur Spring. For many years this was the only house between Towanda and Bloomington. At one time the pumping station for the Chicago and Alton railroad was at Towanda. A large windmill pumped water from the well, located across the tracks near the present blacksmith shop, to the supply tank, which stood a block north of the depot. This was the only well between Chicago and Bloomington which furnished an unfailing supply of soft water. Towanda being a grain country, naturally ware houses became a necessity. David Kinnan and James Alexander built the first. Nathaniel Sunderland owned a second which was destroyed by fire. Charles Roadnight built a large elevator opposite the depot. Another was erected by Price and Maurice Jones in 1892. David Dinnan was followed in the grain business by William Halterman, T. J. Lord, J. J. Price, the Girten Brothers, James Hatfield, the Jones Brothers, Moats and Reedy and James Probasco. In the old ware
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house stood a grist mill of mill stones, driven first by horse power, then steam. Today it is the Towanda Grain Company, organized in 1908 by sons of the early families, of which Oren Clark was manager and George Geiger, President. The board of directors were Price Jones, Louis Kraft, Daniel Kraft, Edwin Henderson, James Donahoe, Oren Clark and George Geiger. At the present time this elevator is torn down and a new one is being erected in its place. E. B. Gatliff is manager. A second elevator is owned and managed by B. G. Falkingham. The Cotter family was also early residents. The father, a native of Ireland, was section foreman. His four sons, spoken of as the "Cotter boys," rose to the highest executives of the railroads. Towanda Township struggled through the hardships of the Civil War. One of the few living veterans of the Grand Army of' the Republic, is Mr. George Peterson, who resides in Towanda at the age of 93 years. In the World War, soldiers from this community fought on foreign soil. As a community we have been active and interested in the American Red Cross, the American Legion and its auxiliary and the Parent-Teacher Association. Many are members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Also the township was represented at the McLean County Centennial at Bloomington in August 1930. Towanda has a Masonic lodge chartered in 1867. Cyrus Jonas was worshipful master. The greatest aid to agriculture in McLean County, as elsewhere, was the organization of the McLean County Farm Bureau in 1914. From its original membership of 192 it has grown to 2,500 the largest Farm Bureau in the world and holds the silver cup. During the critical years of panic following the World War agriculture was save by legislation due to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Towanda Unit of the McLean County Home Bureau was organized in 1918, with a membership of 50, and was later discontinued. Mrs. Oren Clark was chairman. The present unit was organized in January 1937 and now has a membership of 50. Mrs. Harry Roseman is chairman. 'The earliest immigrants of the frontier country immigrated by prairie schooners driven by oxen. Their homes were built of logs hewn from timber and their fences of rails, as were those of the later pioneers. Part of the earliest sod was broken by wooden plows pulled by yoke of oxen. Today farming is mostly done by mechanical power, the tractor, the combine and the corn picker. Thus has agriculture, the foundation of all industry, progressed from the days of the sower by hand, the cradle and the flail, through the years of the wireless planter, the reaper and the horse and steam thresher, to the present mechanical age.
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Industry owes in part its organized system to the telephone, the typewriter and the adding machine, inventions unthought-of by our ancestors. As ancient civilization owes its origin to the discovery of the wheel, the advancement of modern civilization is due to the perfection of the plow. It was one hundred years ago John Deere, a village blacksmith of Grand Detour, Illinois, gave to the world the steel plow. This was a marked improvement over the primitive plow of earlier days. It was this plow that shed the black, sticky soil of the vast prairie empire and insured the permanency of the middle-west. Recreational privileges of today contrast those of earlier amusements. We have the moving pictures, radio, baseball, football, the modern dance and many others, whereas theirs were foot racing, horse racing, the quadrille and the Virginia Reel. As the settlers had to find ways in their homes of supplying their own needs, spinning wool, grinding meal, and in many instances, dipping their own candles, these were occasional. McLean county, consequently Towanda Township, has had more than a century of history but the past 25 years have been more revolutionary than all the previous years. We live in a mechanical paradise, enjoying the benefits of electricity and mechanical power, unknown in the history of man. A bird's eye view from an airplane unknown to the early inhabitants, contrasts a picture to the simple life of the wilderness, Between the railways, the highways and the streams, small villages, hundreds of farms with their bountiful harvests, the flocks and herds grazing in the pasture lands, large barns and comfortable homes denote a prosperous and contented rural population; and the well kept school houses and the churches indicate the means of enlightenment. We have come a long way from the simple life of the early frontier to the abundant life of today. The pioneers of our community and of McLean County, believed, and by faith, walked the rugged way of the frontier country and made this one-time wilderness a garden spot of the world. Their record is closed, those pioneers who fought bare handed the hard life and grinding toil, and the stark conditions of the untamed wilderness which spread in wild and useless luxuriance. They produced a certain degree of wealth, of culture, of solid civilization and it falls upon the present generation, we of today, to fulfill the heritage of our forefathers.
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